"A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them." – P. J. O'Rourke

There are direct taxes of various sorts - these just drain your pocket book.

There are taxes disguised as fees, licenses, fines, and matching costs to an employer that could have gone to the employee - more drain on your pocket book.

There are the expenses of government that are indirect; tariffs, regulations, restrictions, requirements, etc. - these raise costs to those that supply you with goods and raise the prices of the goods, and so drain your pocket book.

And there is the creation of money to pay for government bills that taxes don't cover, this creates the hidden tax of inflation and hurts most the poor and those on fixed incomes.

No government can give more than it takes. In fact governments pay themselves and their friends first; so no government gives nearly as much as it takes. Have you noticed the difference between a tax hike and a tax cut: a small tax increase can cost you thousands while a major tax decrease only costs you hundreds more?

Governments routinely rob Peter to pay Paul, and take a cut; then rob Paul to pay Peter, and take themselves another cut. With both Peter and Paul now diminished they still expect Peter and Paul's support based on governmental generosity.

Governments may claim their new project creates jobs, but where would the money have been spent if it were still in private hands? It would be creating jobs in areas that would directly benefit those who had retained their own money to spend.

In many countries one half of income is absorbed by taxes, requiring both parents to work, one primarily to support the government. This has caused many to look at moving to a lower tax country, but few follow up on the urge. Everyone around them is in similar straits, it would be uncomfortable to change.

"The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain." - Colin Wilson

Don't let yourself be average. Don't let the limits of what you have been taught and the experiences you were allowed constrain your perceptions.

Smaller governments may come eventually from the shrinking of bureaucracies with the ending of the industrial age, but they will not shrink away quietly. Just because it is important and inevitable does not mean it is immanent.

Quit worrying about death and taxes, start concentrating on life after taxes. If you live in a highly regulated and taxed country, you can probably find a much better place to live.

it is up to you